Lack of state funds called threat to ambulance service

Ambulance service could take a giant step backward in Central New York if the state continues to withhold funding for a local agency, according to emergency officials.

Central New York EMS is one of 17 agencies across the state that oversees training, quality assurance and practices for paramedics and emergency medical technicians. More than 3,000 emergency responders - on ambulances in Onondaga, Oswego, Madison, Cayuga and Tompkins counties - are tracked by CNYEMS.

During a closed-door meeting Tuesday night, members of the agency’s council heard from a representative of the state that they could expect no funding, according to several people at the meeting.

“If the funding never arrives service could be reduced to the basic level,” said Lon Fricano, who is on the council and a member of the Union Springs Fire Department. He said CNYEMS hasn’t received state money for months.

New York requires that emergency medical technicians be frequently trained, said Fricano, and without the CNYEMS providing the training, or ensuring that training certificates are filed, ambulance crews may have to drop from providing “advanced life support” to providing “basic life support.”

Cardiac monitoring, intubation and other advanced procedures couldn’t be performed, he said. “It could even end defibrillation.”

CNYEMS has a budget of $184,929, said Executive Director Susie Surprenant. She said her office receives hundreds of questions each week from questions from those wishing to become EMTs to people who have concerns about the care their received in an ambulance.

Linda Foster, of Northern Onondaga Volunteer Ambulance and a council officer, said the loss of funding for CNYEMS ought to raise more concern than have license plate fees.